The 2026 Critics Choice Awards officially kicked off awards season in stylish fashion, celebrating the best performances in film and television from the past year. From emotional acceptance speeches to career turning wins, the ceremony captured a year packed with daring storytelling, outstanding performances, and intense competition across every category. Here’s a full breakdown of who won, who was nominated, and what made the night memorable.
Film Categories: The Year’s Most Celebrated Movies
Best Picture
The top award of the night went to One Battle After Another, a strong film that hit strongly with critics and quickly proved itself as a top awards season candidate.
Other nominees included:
- Sinners
- Hamnet
- Frankenstein
- Weapons
- The Naked Gun
Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for Marty Supreme, presenting one of the most praised performances of his career delicate, intense, and emotionally complex.
Other nominees:
- Paul Mescal
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Barry Keoghan
- Andrew Scott
Best Actress
Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her highly moving role in Hamnet, a performance many critics characterized as haunting and unmissable.
Other nominees:
- Emma Stone
- Margot Robbie
- Saoirse Ronan
- Florence Pugh
Supporting Performances
- Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein)
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Both wins were met with loud cheers, marking standout moments for performances that boosted their films.
Other supporting nominees included:
- Paul Dano
- Ryan Gosling
- Carey Mulligan
- Julianne Moore
Additional Film Wins
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
- Best Original Screenplay: Sinners
- Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another
- Best Animated Feature: K-Pop Demon Hunters
- Best Young Actor/Actress: Miles Caton (Sinners)
Television Categories: Prestige TV Takes Center Stage
Best Drama Series
The Pitt came out as the night’s biggest drama winner, recognized for its compelling storytelling and strong diverse cast.
Other nominees:
- Pluribus
- Succession
- The Crown
- Euphoria
Best Comedy Series
The Studio took home Best Comedy Series, winning over critics with sharp writing and standout performances.
Other nominees:
- Hacks
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Only Murders in the Building
Limited Series & TV Movies
Adolescence ruled the limited series categories, earning several acting wins and confirming its status as one of the year’s most talked about shows.
TV Acting Winners
- Best Actor, Drama: Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
- Best Actress, Drama: Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)
- Best Actor, Comedy: Seth Rogen (The Studio)
- Best Actress, Comedy: Jean Smart (Hacks)
- Best Actor, Limited Series: Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
- Best Actress, Limited Series: Sarah Snook (All Her Fault)
Supporting TV wins went to Janelle James, Ike Barinholtz, Erin Doherty, and Owen Cooper, illustrating the strength of collective performances this year.
Red Carpet Highlights & Viral Moments
Besides the trophies, the red carpet brought its own share of headlines. Kaley Cuoco surprised fans by showing off her darkest hair color in years, entering gracefully into a new style era. Ariana Grande stole hearts with a real fangirl moment over Leighton Meester, showing realness still rules in Hollywood.
Fashion, romance, and real moments merged effortlessly reminding fans why the Critics Choice Awards remain one of the most relaxing stops of awards season.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Critics Choice Awards celebrated brave performances, daring storytelling, and the changing scene of film and television. From One Battle After Another taking the film categories to Adolescence taking over television, the night captured a year where creativity truly succeeded.
Awards season has officially begun, and if this event is any indication, there’s many more drama, glamour, and surprises ahead.
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